Coal feeder or stoker



Dea 24, 1935- W. L. sTUYvERsoN COAL FEEDER 0R s'roKER Filed oct. 11, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 1 f MIT'.

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' Dec. 24, 1935. w. L. sTUYvERsoN 925229 COAL FEEDER 0R STOKER.

Filed Oct. ll, 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 NM. UM.

Das., 24, w35; W. L. STUWERSQN' mazzo COAL FEEDER OR STOKER Filed Cot. 11, 1955 5 shetS-jsh'eet s JZQ Z/ ,K 5 6 127@ Jf 20 J2] ,gz/9 50 f2 lz@ 120' ZQJ W2. WW

De@ 24 3935 WA.. sTUYvERsoN 925,220

COAL FEEDER` OR STOKR Filed Oct.lll, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 'f wie 37"'#H 126 :u:

n. V l "i ?Z MQ 77 Dec- 24, 1935 W. L. sTUYvERsoN @925,22

COAL FEEDER OR STOKER Filed oct. 11, 1953 5 sheets-sheet 5- Patented Dec. 24, 1935 UNIT STATS GFFICE 15 Claims.

This invention relates to coal feeders or stokers.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide an improved stoker structure which is exceedingly simple in design and is inexpensive to manufacture.

Another object is to provide a structure of the foregoing character which is adapted to feed coal in either a wet, damp, or dry condition.

A more specic object is to provide a coal stoker embodying a rotary coal hopper adapted by its rotation to deliver coal in substantially uniform quantities to a feed conduit having hopper-driven conveyor means delivering the coal 7' to the place of consumption.

A further object is to provide a closed system for feeding coal whereby slack or very fine and cheap coal may be used with maximum cleanliness and at a minimum of operating expense, and

29 with which combustible coal dust is retained and conveyed to the heating plant where it is burned thereby aiding in fuel saving.

Still another object is to provide coal feeding means which eliminates any tendency toward clogging, packing, and arching of the coal to be fed and which reduces wear of the operating parts to the very minimum whereby coal of varying degrees of hardness and coke may be fed with equal eiciency and Without materially de- 30 creasing the length of life of the structure. More particularly, this invention contemplates an arrangement wherein abrasion action is reduced to the minimum so that vary hard coal and coke may be fed by the coal feeding means Without detrimental wear effects.

A further object is to provide a portable coal stoker readily adjustable to various furnaces or heating plants, the arrangement being such that the structure may be moved from place to place and installed in connection with the furnace or heating plant without the reconstruction of parts of the latter. To the foregoing end, means are provided for adjusting the height of the structure and novel closure means are also provided for closing the ordinary feed door opening of the furnace or heating plant. The arrangement is such that the Stoker may be adjusted to the proper height and then set up in connection with the furnace or heating plant by merely opening 'lor removing the usual feed door and moving the structure into operating position.

Additional objects are to eliminate the necessity of use of mechanical agitating means, the rotary motion of the hopper serving to agitate 55 and condition the coal for feeding; to provide ils an arrangement including but very few parts which are readily adjustable for cleaning, repairing, etc., purposes; to provide a more compact coal feeder structure adapted to hold an increased supply of coal, the arrangement being 5l such that the coal is delivered to a feed conduit connecting with the central portion of the rotary hopper whereby the height of the structure is reduced to the minimum with increased coal storage abilities; to reduce fuel waste to the minimum; to provide an arrangement which may be installed and used with an ordinary home heating plant by an inexperienced and unskilled person; and to provide for positive 'delivery of the coal to the heating plant regardless of the amount to be delivered within any given time.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as this description progresses and by reference to the drawings wherein:

Fig. l is a vertical sectional view of one form of coal feeding structure embodying this invention, the same being illustrated as applied to a furnace;

Fig. 2 is a front end elevational View of the coal feeding structure shown in Fig. 1;

Fig..3 is a section taken substantially on line- 3-3 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section taken substantially on line l--d of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmental side eleva- 30 tional view of means for closing the feed door opening of the furnace;

Fig. 6 is a section taken substantially on line 6 5 of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 is a detail, vertical sectional view of the 35 adjustable support for the forward part of the 'structure of Fig. 1;

Fig. 8 is a section similar to Fig. 7, except showing the parts in an inverted position of adjustment;

Fig. 9 is a section taken substantially on line 9--9 of Fig. 3, and showing the structure for latching the hopper door in its closed position;

Fig. 10 is a View similar to Fig. 9 except showing the parts in an unlatched condition;

Fig. 11 is a view taken substantially on line ll-ll of Fig. 10;

Fig. l2 is a rear end elevational view, partially in section, of another form of coal feeding structure embodying the invention; and

Fig. 13 is a section taken substantially on line l-IZ-l of Fig. 12.

Coal feedingor stoker structure embodying this invention is adapted for use in connection with various forms of heating yplants and for purposes Y the front-frame portion 20.

of this description I have shown a form of Stoker embodying the invention associated with a conventional form of furnace Il! having a grate II and a feed opening IZ'adapted to be closed by a door (not shown). According to this invention, the coal feeding structure is particularly adapted to feed coal of any degree of hardness and coke.

The Stoker structure shown in Figs.V 1 to 11, inclusive, includes a frame I3, a rotatable hopper I4 and a feed conduit l5 having a conveyor I6 therein driven by the rotatable hopper.

'The frameV I3 (Figs, l to 4) includes an integral front section having a lower rectangular portion 20 and an upper, integral and triangular portion 2I. The rear frame section takes the form of an upper triangular portion 22 and an integral bottom leg 23 extending centrally from the base of the upper triangular portion 22. parts of the upper triangular portions 2| and 22 of the front and rear frame sections are joined 4,together at their opposite sides by side members .24, these parts being secured together by bolt and nut devices 25. The lower part of the rear frame vleg 23 and the lower part of the Vfront frame portion 20 arejoined together by angularly disposed side members 26 secured at their opposite endsiinV the same manner as the side members 24. The vertical and horizontal parts of both the front :and rear frame sections as well as the side connecting :members 24 and 26 are formed to an angle'shape for the purpose of adding strength and rigidity'to the frame structure as a whole.

The frame I3 (Figs. 1 to 4) is portably carried by `front Wheels 30 and a rear pilot wheel 3|. v'-Ihe wheels 30, 3I are connected to the frame I3 inthe following manner: The front wheels 3B are supported by an axle 32 having at its opposite ends tubular casting members 33 adapted to be secured thereto in an upright (Figs. 1, 2, and 1) or .inverted position (-FigfS) by set screws 34. The inner Aangled portion of the vertical sides of the lower portion 20 of the front frame section are provided with spaced, integral sleeve-like members 35, 36. The casting members 33 receive upright standards 38 (preferably, but not necessarily, tubular) which pass freely through the sleeve-like portions 35, 36 of the upright parts of The angled portion of the rear frame leg 23 is provided with integral sleeve-like members 39, 40 similar to the sleeve members 35, V3i; of the front portion 20, and they slidably receive a tubular standard 4I which is carried byra member 42 with which shank 43 connected to the rear wheel 3l has a swivel connection as vat 44. It will be obvious that the vertical position of the frame I3 may be varied by elevating it upward along the standards 38 and 4I .and by securing it in its elevated position by tightening set screws 45 carried by the respective sleeve members 35, 36, 39, and 40.

Additional means is provided for lowering or varying vthe minimum height position of the front end of the frame I3 to accommodate feed door openings of minimum height. The lower ends' of the 'front standards 38 are provided with longitudinally spaced diametrical openings 31, 31'

through which the front axle 32 is adapted to be passed. When the casting members 33 are mounted in an upright position as shown in Figs. 1 and '1 the axle l32 is passed through the lower standard .openings 31 and the lowermost position vof the frame I3 is determinediby the frame resting on the upperrend of the casting members 33 at a distance labove the axle 32 equal substantially to theleng'th of the casting members `33. However,

The base when the axle 32 is passed through the uppermost standard opening 31', the casting members 33 are inverted so that the portions of the standards projecting beneath the axle' 32 are received and supported therein (Fig. '1). Obviously, with 5 the casting members inverted, the frame can be lowered to seat thereon at a point only slightly above the axle 32, thereby reducing the minimum height position of the frame a distance equal substantially to the length of the casting members 33. 10 Adjustment of the frame along the standards 38 and 4I together with the foregoing adjustment accurately insures a` proper set-up of the structure with various sizes and kinds of heating plants.

The upper ends or apices of the front and rear 15 triangular frame portions 2| and 22 have ringlike portions 53, 5I that provide aligned openings for support of the feed conduit I5 and the hopper I4 as will be more fully described hereinafter.

The feed conduit i5 (Fig. 1) consists of a pair oi joined sections lSa and I5b of a combined length sufficient to project the section I5a 'entirely through the hopper I4 on the axis oi' the latter and to project the section I5b within the 25 furnace I3 at a point substantially above the central portion of thegrate il. The front end of the feed conduit section I5i passes lthrough the opening in the ring-like part 53 in the front frame section where it is secured to the conduit 30 section 15b as follows: A collar '52 is screwthreadedly (may be integral if desired) fixed upon the rear end of conduit section I5b, and the collar 52 is rigidly secured to the ring part 5D bya plurality of studs 53. The ring part 50 and collar 35 52 Vare provided with aligned and nested vrecessand-shoulder connection 53a which insures proper rltment of these parts and true alignment between the conduit sections I5*L and I5". In the foregoing mannery the feed conduit I5 as a whole o is xed against movement either axially or rotatably. The rear portion of the conduit I5 projects through the rear wall of the hopper I4 and such end is supported by the structure which rotatably supports the rear part of the hopper as 45 will be more fully explained hereinafter. That part of the feed conduit i5 which is located within the hopper I4 is provided in its upper po'rtion with Yan opening 54 of relativelysmall length and width dimensions. Coal, or otherfuel `that may 50 be fed, is delivered through the opening 54 from the hopper `I4 into the feed `conduit I5.

The hopper I4 (Fig. l) is of a cylindrical drum type and it .is so mounted that it .rotates about the feed conduit rIES at Vits axis. The opposite 55 ends 61'), 6I of the `hopper are provided with openings 52 `and 63, respectively, for reception of the feed conduit I5. The hopper walls 50, 6I Varound the openings E2, S3 are reenforced by plates 65.

A bearing collar 63 is secured to the outer face 60 of the front hopper wall Ell around the opening 52 and this bearing collar surrounds and nds bearing support upon the adjacent surface of the feed conduit I5. The bearing collar 66 is provided with an oil cup .61 and oil duct 68 for 65 lubrication in an obvious manner,

The outer face of the rear hopper wall 6I also has a bearing collar` S9 secured thereto Varound the opening 53 therein. This bearing collar 59 surrounds and rotates about the rear projecting 70 end of the' feed conduit I5 and it nds bearing support in the ring-like part 5I .of the triangular portion 22 of the rear frame section. Oil cups 1I and 12 and oil ducts 13 and 14 are associated with the rear lbearing collar 3S and the rear 75 described. The hopper frame portion 22 for lubrication of the rotatable bearings in a manner which will be well understood. The rear end of the feed pipe I5 is open and it terminates short of the. rear end of bearing collar 69, such collar being provided with a shoulder 59a against which the rear end of the feed conduit is engaged. The rear end of the bearing collar 59 is also slightly reduced for reception within the ring part 5I, providing a shoulder 591 against which the ring part 5i abuts.

With the arrangement just described, it will be seen that the hopper i6 is not only mounted for rotation about the feed conduit I5, but the rotatable connection between the feed conduit, the hopper I9 and the rear bearing collar 59 also affords additional support for the feed conduit I5 while permitting of the relative rotation Just Ill is positively held against axial displacement relative to the feed conduit I5 by collar I5 secured to the feed conduit I5 by set screws l? in substantially abutting relation with the inner faces of the reenforcing plates 55 next to the front and rear hop per walls Sli and 6i. The abutting relation between the shoulders and. 91 of bearing collar 69 and the rear end of feed conduit I5 and the ring part 5I further serve to position these parts against relative axial displacement.

The interior of the hopper is provided with a shelf-like scoop i9, the same being secured by suitable fastening devices 'i9 in longitudinal alignment with the opening 5t in the feed conduit l5. In other words, the scoop-like shelf 78 is so located that as the hopper It is rotated and. the scoop 'I9 is elevated so as to dump its contents by gravity, such contents will be .fed into the feed conduit opening 54. The scoop is of slightly less length than the opening 5d to fa cilitate the foregoing operation.

The coal, or other fuel to be fed7 is deposited in the hopper through a door 89 which is hingeclly supported at 3i (Figs. 3 and 9). The door 8S extends throughout the length of the hopper with its opposite ends overlapping the angled rims Si. of the hopper end walls @t and tl. The lower side edge of the door is adapted to fit snugly and in circumferential alignment with the cylindrical hopper as best shown in Fig. 3. The door 8d is adapted to be securely locked. in a closed and. practically sealed condition by a latch structure which includes an outer handle member 93 rotatably mounted near the lower central and. free edge portion of the door. This handle is provided, on the inner side of the door, with a disk 84 to which there are pivotally connected at diametrically opposed points a pair of latch rods 85. The free ends of these rods are slidably supported by door-carried brackets 69. It will be obvious that when the handle 83 is turned to the position shown in Figs. 3 and. 9 to latch the door in closed position, the rods 85 will be extended to a point wherein their outer free ends extend beneath the rims 82 of the hopper end walls 55 and. 6I, thereby preventing outward hinging movement of the door. To unlatch the door (Fig. l0) it is only necessary to rotate the handle in an upward direction to draw the rods 85 inwardly from beneath the hopper wall rims whereupon the door is freed for swinging movement to an open position. The disk 84 is provided with a lug 9'! which, in the latched position of the door, extends under the adjacent longitudinal edge of the hopper wall for securely latching the central edge of the door to the hopper wall (Fig. 9). This structure provides a substantially sealed closure for the hopper opening for the purposes hereinabove stated.

The door handle 83 is held in its door-latching position by a spring 89 secured at one end as at 88a, to the door with its other and. free end projecting toward the free edge of the door. This spring 83 is provided With a notch 89 in its free end and it is so positioned that when the handle 83 is moved to its horizontal latched position (Figs. 3 and. 9), such handle engages the spring notch 89 so that the handle is held against accidental movement toward an unlatched position. It will be noted (Fig. l1) that the free and notched end of spring 98 normally extends outwardly away from the door 89 a greater distance than the handle 93 is spaced from the door so that the spring is slightly compressed when the handle 33 is engaged in the notch 89. In this way vibration and. other conditions do not affect the latched door and the door remains latched. during rotation of the hopper and otherwise until the handle 83 is release-d and moved to an unlatching position by the operator.

'Ihe coal is fed through the feed conduit I5 25 by the screw-type conveyor I6 (Figs. 1 and 3). This conveyor is driven by the hopper in the following manner: The rear bearing collar 69 which is connected to the rear hopper wall 6I extends through the opening in the rear frame part 5I sufficiently for securement thereto of a drive plate 99. This drive plate 90 is secured to the bearing collar 59 by a plurality of screw studs 9I and its inner wall is provided with a hub-like part 92 which has a rectangularly-shaped, or other non-circular, opening 93 therein. The rear end or shank 94 of the screw conveyor I6 has a cross sectional shape similar to that of the opening 93 in the drive plate 99, the spiral blade 95 of the conveyor terminating at this rectangular portion slightly rearward of the rear end of the conduit opening 54. The rear end of the conveyor shaft 94 which is received Within the opening 93 is slightly smaller than the opening 93 to permit slight play between the parts; and the rear end of the conveyor shaft 9d is secured to the drive member 99 by a screw stud 95 which extends freely through an opening 91 in the drive member 99. The discharge end of the conveyor is free, the conveyor spiral 55 being of a width slightly less than the diameter of the feed conduit I5. This arrangement permits of slight angular movement of the conveyor I5 within the feed conduit I5 whereby the conveyor I6 may freely adjust itself within the feed conduit as the coal is being fed along by the same.

Any suitable means may be employed for driving the hopper I4 and, as shown, I preferably employ an electric motor imi (Figs. 1 and 2). The motor |00 is connected in any suitable man# ner to a vertically-swingable arm I9! pivotally connected at |92 to the frame. The other end of the arm I 0I is provided with an extension E93 having an opening which receives the lower end cf a rod IM which has its upper end pivotally connected to the frame as at Ii5.v Coil springs IDS are mounted upon the rod i134 on the opposite sides of the arm extension w3 and the position of the arm IIJI and the tension of the springs |95 are determined by adjustable thumb nuts ID'I. In this manner, the motor is providedl with a cushioned support and the sprocket chain I 08, by which the hopper is driven, is held constantly in an adjustably tensioned condition.

The motor mo is provided with a drive pinion 75 the ange IIS.

|09 which is drive-connected to a gear I|0 rotatably supported by the arm IOI. The gear ||0 rotates a drive sprocket I II which'isdrive-connected with the sprocket chain |08. 'I'he forward wall 00 of the drum near its periphery is provided with a drive sprocket I I2 secured thereto by bolt and nut devices 3, which sprocket Y,gear is drive-connected with the relatively large sprocket chain |08 so that upon rotation of the drive sprocket III by the motor the hopper I4 Vwill be likewise rotated at a relatively slower rate.

The structure may be easily and quickly set up in connection with a heating plant such as the furnace I0 (Fig. l). The height of the feed conduit I5 may be readily adjusted, asl above explained. This adjustment may be carried out either before or after the discharge end of the Yfeed conduit is moved into the furnace I0 above its grate II. After the structure is moved to its operating position, it is held there by a dog I I4 rotatably supported by the Wheel axle 32 (Figs. 1 and 2). This dog is provided with a toothed hoor-engaging head II5 and a weighted arm I I6 so angularly disposed relative to the head that it tends to engage the toothed head with the floor surface. Obviously, with this arrangement, the structure may be moved freely toward the furnace I0 but cannot be moved away Without lifting the dog head from the floor. It will be understood that the dog II4 may be similarly associated with the rear or pilot wheel mounting if it is so desired. Y

The usual door for closing the furnace opening I2 is either opened or removed to permit the feed conduit to be moved into position, and when this is done'the opening I2 is closed by a plate II 1 carried by the feed conduit I5 as follows (Figs. 1, 5, and 6). A collar member II8 having a lateral surrounding flange II9 is mounted upon the feed conduit I5, being adjustably secured thereto by opposed screw members |20.

The closure plate I|1 is adjustably supported upon the flange IIS of the member ||8 by a plurality (preferably, but not necessarily, four) of cap screws |2| which pass freely through openings in the plate II'I and are secured to The heads |22 of the screws |2| limit the extent of movement of the plate |I`| away from the member I I8, and movement of the plate II'I toward the member II8 is yieldably opposed by coil springs |23 ysurrounding the several studs I2I and confined under slight compression between the plate III and flange |I9. The openings in plate ||1 through which the studs I2I pass are of sufliciently greater diameter than the stems of studs |2| that the plate I I'I is free to adjust itself angularly with respect thereto and to the member II8. The plate III is also provided with an opening |24 through which the 'feed conduit I5 passes. 'Ihe adjustmentY screws |20 provide for vertical adjustment of the member ||3 and plate II'I so as to insure that the plate I I'I will be properly positioned over and around the furnace opening I2.

When the structure is moved into operative position With respect to the furnace I0, the closure plate III fits over the opening I2- in such a Way that it closes the same as effectively as the conventional door. It will be appreciated that variations may exist in the oor surfaces supporting the hopper I4 and the furnace I0, and, to accommodate these variations and insure that the plate II'I will seat uniformly around and over the door opening, the yieldable universal connection above describedV is provided. The ability of the plate I'I'I to adjust itself angularly to the cap screws I2| insures this result, while the door is firmly and yieldably pressed into closed position by the springs |23 which may be somewhat 5 compressed. As above explained the dog I|4 holds the structure in the foregoing relation to the furnace.

Excess heating of the closure plate I and the v adjacent parts of the structure is avoided by the 10 provision of a bale plate |25 formed of metal, or any other suitable material. This baflie plate is detachably supported by the central portion of the closure plate II'I by a U-shaped strap member |26 which has its U-base part Welded or 185 otherwise permanently secured to the plate |25 and its U-legs secured to the plate II'I by boltand-nut Ydevices |21 (Figs. 1, 5, and 6). The upper left-hand side of the baffle plate |25, as viewed in Fig. 6, is out away to a slight extent to 2Q. permit a View of the interior of the furnace through a peep opening II'Ia in the closure plate III, which peep opening is adapted to be closed by a` door |28. The door |28 is of rectangular shape and its lower edge is pivot-ally supported 255 by a horizontal shaft |29 carried by brackets |2535t and |291). Ihe bracket |29b has a ratchet |250 thereon adapted to be engaged by the adjacent edge ofthe door |28. A spring |29d is mounted on the shaft |29 so as to constantly urge 3oz the door |28 toward and into engagement with the ratchet IZSC. In this manner, the door may be opened to variable extents for draft or peep purposes, and the ratchet |29c will hold the same in such position. A hook-like handle |28ab is pro- 35; vided on the upper edge of door |28 to facilitate movement of the latter.

In the operation of the structure so far de-` scribed, the desired amount of coal, orr the like, is placed in the hopper. The hopper I4 and con- 4Q veyor I 6 are set in motion by cutting in the motor |00 in Iany desired manner, manually or otherwise. Controls (not shown) governed by the temperature of the environment to be heated, or

' the like, may be employed for cutting in the motor at intervals or for causing it to operate at variable speeds, dependent upon the temperature condition to be maintained. In the rotation of the hopper I4 if it is more than half full of coal, the openingr54 will be constantly supplied 5o; with coal which is fed through the conduit I5 by the conveyor I6 ata rate dependent upon the speed of rotation of the hopper I4 and the conveyor. When the level of the coal in the hopper is below the opening 54, the scoop 'I8 will, as the 551 hopper is rotated, become filled with coal and will deposit the same by gravity when the hopper is rotated to a position such as that illustrated in Figures 1 and 3.

In-the rotation of the hopper I4, the coal is G0'l shifted and agit-ated in such a Way that it is always in con-dition for -thefeeding of substantially uniform amounts. In other words, the opening 54 in the feeding conduit I5 is constantly supplied with fuel so that the conveyor I6, as it e5 is rotated by the hopper, continues to feed theV coal along through the conduit to its discharge point in a uniform manner. By agitating and feeding the coal in this m-anner, either wet, damp or dry coal may be fed uniformly. This feature of the invention makes possible the use of slack or very ne coal with safety and highest efficiency. In the use of slack and very line coal, particularly where the same must be stored in the home or other similar place, it may become necessary to wet or .dampen the s-ame to render it safe from the usual combustive dangers. With this invention, the thus dampened coal may be fed with efficiency equal to dry coal because the rotary hopper conditions the same for feeding free from packing, arching and clogging conditions which exist in the use of prior structures, such, for example, as the conventional stoker wherein the hopper is stationary and the coal is fed by gravity to an independently rotated conveyor device. In such prior structures the damp or wet coal, as is well known, tends to pack and arch adjacent to the conveyor to such an extent that either no coal or non-uniform quantities of coal are fed.

Still further, in the use of the structure above described, the agitation of the coal by rotating the hopper reduces abrasive effects on the conveyor and related operating parts to the very minimum so that the length of life of the structure as a whole is greatly increased. In fact, abrasion effects are so reduced that very hard coal and coke may be fed without material wear of the conveyor whereby, contrary to prior efforts, these materials may be used as Stoker-fed fuel in a highly practical manner. From practical demonstration, it is believed that the rotary hopper directly driving the conveyor contributes materially in the attaining of the foregoing advantages.

In Figs. 12 and 13 I illustrate another form of stoker structure embodying this invention. Specifically, this form includes a frame |30 made up of a plurality of angled pieces. The frame is supported upon front and rear casters |3| |32 which have legs or upright standards |33 adjustably secured and held within the angle legs |3|la of the frame by U-bolts |34. A feed conduit |35 is mounted upon and secured to the front section of the frame |39 by a U-bolt |3t` which surrounds the feed conduit and has its ends secured to the upper flange |37 of the front section of the frame (Fig. 13). feed conduit |35 is supported within a rotatable bearing collar |38 which finds rotatable bearing support Within a ring member |39 which is mounted upon and secured to the top flange |43 of the rear frame section by a U-bolt |4| which passes over and around the ring member |39 and is secured to the rear frame flange |40 (Fig. 13)

The bearing collar |38 is secured to the rear wall |42 of a fuel-receiving hopper |43. The forward end |44 of the hopper |43 has a bearing collar |45 secured thereto, the latter surrounding and finding bearing support upon the feed conduit |35. The feed conduit |35 extends entirely through the hopper |43 on the axis of the latter and, in the foregoing manner, the hopper |43 is supported for rotation about the feed conduit |35.

The hopper |43, like that of the previously described form, is provided with a door |46 through which fuel is fed thereinto. A latch |53 of the form shown in Fig. l2 is employed to hold the door closed.

The feed conduit |35 is provided with an opening |41 within and extending throughout the greater portion of the length of the hopper. The hopper is provided with a shelf or scoop |48 which extends throughout the length of the hopper for feeding coal into the feed conduit opening |4'| as the hopper is rotated, as explained in connection with the form of Figs. 1 to l1, inclusive.

The rear end of the hopper is provided with a circumferentially-located drive sprocket |49 which is secured to the hopper in any desired manner. This sprocket |49 is adapted to be op- The rear portion of the v eratively connected to drive means such as the motor of Fig. 2, or any other suitable drive device.

A screw conveyor |53 is mounted in the feed conduit |35 and it is rotated directly by the hop- 5 per |43. The drive connection between the hopper and conveyor is accomplished by a plate secured to the bearing collar |38, the conveyor |50 having a squared end 52 which passes through a similarly shaped opening in the plate I5 Oth- 10 er than the foregoing, the construction and operation of the form of Figs. l2 and 13 is substantially the same as that of Figs. 1 to 11, inclusive.

It is believed that the features and advantages of thisainvention as first above stated will be readily understood from the foregoing. Also, it is to be understood that while only two forms of structure embodying the invention are shown and described, other changes in details and arrangements of parts may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as dened by the claims which follow.

I claim:

l. In a coal Stoker, a hopper for receiving thel coal, a feed conduit extending axially through said hopper and aboutwhich said hopper is adapted to rotate, said conduit having an opening therein located within said hopper and through which the coal is fed from the hopper, means for rotating said hopper, a conveyor within said conduit, and means directly connecting said conveyor to said hopper whereby rotation of said hopper imparts feed motion to said conveyor.

2. In a coa-l Stoker, a hopper, a stationary feed conduit, means for rotatably mounting said hopper upon said conduit with the latter on the axis of the former, said conduit communicating with the interior of said hopper, drive means, a conveyor in said conduit, and connections between said drive means, hopper and conveyor whereby rotary motion is imparted to said hopper to in turn impart feed motion to said conveyor.

3. A coal stoker which includes a cylindrical drum-like hopper for receiving the coal, a feed conduit extending entirely through said hopper and on the axis of the latter, said conduit having an opening therein within said hopper, means for rotatably mounting said hopper on said conduit,

a rotatable conveyor within said conduit adapted by its rotation to feed the coal through said conduit toward the discharge end of the latter, a connection between said hopper and conveyor for rotating the latter, and means for rotating said hopper. 55

4. A coal stoker which includes a cylindrical drum-like hopper for receiving the coal, a feed conduit extending entirely through said hopper and on the axis of the latter, said conduit having an opening in its upper side within said hopper, means for rotatably mounting said hopper on said conduit, means in said hopper for collecting coal therein and delivering the same to said conduit through said opening, a rotatable conveyor within said conduit adapted by its rotation to feed the coal through said conduit toward one end of the latter, a drive connection between said hopper and conveyor at the drive end of the latter for rotating the conveyor, and means for rotating said hopper.

5. In a coal stoker, a cylindrical hopper, a feed conduit passing through said hopper on the axis of the latter, means for rotatably mounting said hopper on said conduit which includes bearing members on the opposite ends of said hopper and rotatably mounted on said conduit, a support in which one of said bearing members is journaled, a conveyor in said conduit, said conduit having `an opening therein within said hopper, a drive connection between said one bearing member and said conveyor, and means for rotating said vhopper which in turn rotates said conveyor through said drive connection.

6. In a coal stoker, a frame, 'a cylindrical drumlike hopper that receives the coal, a feed conduit extending through said hopper on the axis of the latter and having an opening therein within -said hopper through which coal is fed thereto from the hopper, bearing members on the opposite ends of said hopper having rotatable connection with said conduit, means adjacent one of said bearing members securing said conduit to saidframe, means for rotatably mounting the other of said bearing members on said frame so as to afford rotatable support for said hopper as well as alignment support for said conduit, a screw conveyor in said conduit and having a drive shaft, means affording angular movement of said conveyor connecting the latter to said other bearing member, and means for imparting rotary motion to said hopper to impart rotary feed motion to said conveyor.

7. In a coal stoker, a cylindrical coal receiving hopper, a stationary feed conduit passing axially through said hopper and having an opening communicating with the interior of said hopper, means for rotatably mounting said hopper onsaid feed conduit, means for feeding the coal through said feed'conduit, means for rotating said hopper, and means for drive-connecting said hopper to saidfeeding means.

Y 8. In a coal stoker, a cylindrical coal receiving hopper, a stationary feed conduit passing axially through said hopper and having an opening communicating with the interior of said hopper, means for rotatably mounting said hopper on saidfeed conduit, means in said hopper controlled by rotary movement of said hopper for gathering quantities of coal and delivering the same tosaid feed conduit, means for feeding the coal through said feed conduit, means for rotating said hopper, and means for drive-connecting said hopper to said feeding means so that said coal feeding means is operated only when said hopper is rotated and at the same rate of speed as the latter.

9. In a coal Stoker, a cylindrical coal receiving hopper, a stationary feed conduit passing axially through said hopper and having an opening communicating with the interior of said hopper, means for rotatably mounting said hopper on said feed conduit, a scoop member carried by said hopper and actuated in the movement of said hopper to collect a quantity of coal and deliver the same to said feed conduit through said conduit opening during each rotary cycle of said hopper, means for rotating said hopper, means for feeding the coal through said conduit, and means drive-connecting said hopper and feeding means. Y

V10. In a coal stoker, a cylindrical drum-like coal-receiving hopper, a stationary feed conduit passing axially through said hopper, means for mounting said hopper on said conduit for rotation thereabout, means for preventing relative axial movement between said hopper and conduit,

said conduit having an opening therein and' also means for feeding coal therethrough, means for rotating said hopper to agitate and deliver the coal through said opening into said conduit, and means interconnecting said hopper and feeding means whereby the former directly drives the latter. Y

11. A coal stoker comprising a feed conduit, supporting means for said conduit, a hopper rotatable about said conduit and adapted to= supply coal thereto, a bearing collar on said hopper and journaled on said conduit, a ring in which said bearing collar is journaled, means for securing said ring to said supporting means, and conveyor means operable within said conduit.

12. A coal stoker comprising a feed conduit, a cylindrical hopper rotatable about said conduit and adapted to supply the coal thereto, bearing collars secured to the opposite ends of said hopper and which are journaled on said conduit, a ring in which one of said bearing collars is journaled, supporting means, means for securing said ring and a longitudinally-spaced portion of said conduit to said supporting means, and conveyor means in said conduit.

13. A coal stoker comprising a frame, a feed conduit, means clamping said conduit to the frame, a fuel hopper journaled on said conduit, said conduit having an opening therethrough, said hopper having a shelf therein adapted to elevate coal through rotation, and permit discharge thereof by gravity through said opening into the conduit, a bearing collar on said hopper into which the conduit extends, said bearing collar having a shoulder abutted by the conduit, said bearing collar having a reduced extension, a bearing ring on said extension, clamping means Vsecuring the ring to said frame, a plate on the outer end of the bearing collar, and a conveyor connected to the plate and operable in said conduit to feed coal therethrough.

14. Fuel feeding apparatus of the character described comprising in combination a tubular conveyor including a tube adapted to project into a furnace, a support engaging said tube to hold the same against rotation and in a substantially horizontal position, a rotary hopper drum mounted coaxially on said tube and supported thereby, said tube being open inside said hopper to permit the introduction Vof fuel thereinto, a

rotary screw conveyor inside said tube'to advance the fuel thereto and deliver the same to the furnace, means for rotating said hopper, and a plate adjacent the rear side of the drum and carried thereby and connected with said screw conveyor for transmitting rotation to the latter.

l5. Fuel feeding apparatus of the character described comprising in combination'a tubular conveyor including a hollow tube adapted to project into a furnace and through which fuel is A WILLIAM L. STUYVERSON. 

